Amtrak expands Wi-Fi on Midwest trains

Monday

Feb 10, 2014 at 12:22 PMFeb 10, 2014 at 1:16 PM

By Tim LandisBusiness Editor

High-speed, wireless Internet is now available on eight Amtrak routes in the Midwest, including in Illinois.

The expansion launched Monday includes four daily, Lincoln Service trains that stop in Springfield, as well as the Illini-Saluki service between Carbondale and Chicago, and the Illinois Zephyr/Carl Sandburg service between Quincy and Chicago.

“What this does is tends to increase our ridership,” said spokesman Marc Magliari. “These are the amenities people are looking for.”

Magliari said the free, 4G Wi-Fi is available through multiple, mobile devices and wireless carriers. The service was introduced on some Lincoln Service trains between St. Louis and Chicago in 2012.

The three Illinois routes carried 1.22 million passengers in the federal fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2013. Amtrak is providing the service through contracts with each of the states involved.

Wi-Fi also was launched Monday on the following routes:

* Wolverine Service, Chicago-Pontiac, Mich.

* Blue Water, Chicago-Port Huron, Mich.

* Pere Marquette, Chicago-Grand Rapids, Mich.

* Hiawatha Service, Chicago-Milwaukee.

* Missouri River Runner, St. Louis-Kansas City.

As a result of the expansion, 85 percent of passengers nationwide have access to Wi-Fi, according to Amtrak.

While the service is free, there are limits.

“As the demand for on-board Wi-Fi grows, and in order to ensure the best experience for everyone,” Amtrak said in a statement, “data-intensive activities, such as streaming video and music, and large file downloads that can slow everyone down, will be restricted.”